Fire risk tops the headlines, but short circuit events may be the more immediate threat on your next project. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are having a moment. After years of promise, the technology has reached an inflection point thanks to plummeting costs, utility-scale deployments, and continuing federal support. BESS has earned its reputation as the sector to watch by solving difficult grid problems. But momentum has a way of o....
In the North American power market, Demand Response (DR) is no longer confined to large industrial facilities turning off heavy machinery during peak hours. Driven by FERC Order 2222 and the rapid deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs), behind-the-meter C&I solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are increasingly relied upon to provide active grid support. Modern utility programs and Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) require C....
While not the world oldest profession, the reuse of products is a close second, dating back to when a caveman picked up a spear after his partner was eaten by a lion. Today, it is estimated that 45 percent of industries depend on it. Some examples are the auto industry relying on scrapyards for parts, heavy construction equipment, HVAC systems in buildings, utilities, plumbing, marine, military, aviation, and telecommunications — all rely on....
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most significant drivers of energy demand growth in modern history. As hyperscale data centers expand across North America to support AI processing, cloud infrastructure, and high-density computing, utilities and developers are accelerating investments in renewable energy projects at unprecedented speed. Much of the public conversation surrounding this transition has focused on solar photovol....
Energy Storage
Schaltbau North America
Energy Storage
Gary Lam
Energy Storage
Sequoya Cross
SunVest, one of the largest vertically integrated developers of mid-scale clean energy projects in the United States, has opened the doors to its new Chicago Loop headquarters — a move that more than doubles the company's office footprint and signals its next phase of growth.
The relocation comes as SunVest deepens its footprint in its largest market of Illinois and scales up an energy storage pipeline that positions the company to provide reliable power for decades into the future. SunVest expects to hit nearly 300 megawatts of owned assets under management by the end of this year, including 90 megawatt hours of battery energy storage systems which are currently under construction.
"We've grown fast and we need a headquarters that can grow just as fast with us," said Bram Walters, CEO of SunVest Solar. "This isn't just a bigger office — it's a statement. We're planting our flag in the heart of Chicago's business district because we're building a company not just to participate in the clean energy transition – but to lead it."
The new space – at 200 North LaSalle Street - gives SunVest room to scale its team well beyond its current headcount of roughly 60 employees, most of which work out of the new Loop headquarters and the company's satellite office in Geneva, Illinois.
The building itself was recently renovated with a new generation of workers in mind. Jennifer Maske, Vice President of People and Culture at SunVest, said the location was chosen as much for talent as for prestige.
"Recruiting the best people in clean energy means space with amenities employees increasingly want, including a fitness center, pickleball court, lounge space and more,” said Maske. “And because sustainability is part of who we are, the building offers strong transit access and indoor bike storage so our team can commute the same way we power homes — cleanly."
Founded in 2009, SunVest has developed and built more than 600 megawatts of solar projects and is advancing a pipeline exceeding 2.5 gigawatts — a scale that puts it among the most seasoned and prolific distributed generation developers in the nation. With its new headquarters anchoring the company in Chicago's Loop, SunVest is doubling down on the region's deep talent pool and Illinois' fast-growing demand for reliable, low-cost clean energy.
The new office marks the latest milestone in a pivotal year for SunVest. For the second year in a row, the company recently landed a spot on Crain's Chicago Business’ Fast 50 List, and was the only clean energy company to receive the honor.
SunVest | https://www.sunvest.com/
Tickets are now available for the Solar Roots Party, taking place October 30 – November 1, 2026, at the Ponderosa Hall-Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, California, considered one of the birthplaces of the modern solar industry. As part of the three-day gathering, the feature-length documentary film “Solar Roots - The Pioneers of PV” will make its world premiere at the Del Oro Theater.
The film, more than a decade in the making, chronicles the untold true story of the hippies who brought solar power down from space and adapted it to power their remote homes in the forests of Northern California, ultimately transforming the technology into one of the world’s fastest growing sources of electricity today. The filmmakers, Jeff Spies (Executive Producer) and Jason Vetterli (Director), conducted over 50 interviews with many of the movement's founders, innovators, and early adopters, preserving stories that might otherwise have been lost to history.
"This film has truly been a labor of love," said Jeff Spies, Executive Producer. "Our goal was to preserve the stories of the industry pioneers. Sadly, we've lost many along the way, making the documenting of their experiences even more meaningful. Their creativity, determination, and willingness to challenge conventional thinking changed the world. I hope this film will inspire generations to come with those same values."
Rather than relying on a polished Hollywood production style, the filmmakers intentionally embraced an authentic documentary approach, reflecting the personality of the people and communities that gave birth to the solar industry.
"We wanted the film to feel as genuine as the people telling their stories," said Jason Vetterli, Director. "This allowed us to capture the quirky humor, ingenuity, and authenticity that defined the early solar movement. Most of the interviews were filmed in the same backwoods where the home PV industry took root, allowing viewers to experience the settings alongside the pioneers."
Following its world premiere at the Solar Roots Party, the film will be released as a free, non-commercial documentary, making it available to audiences around the world as an educational resource and historical archive for future generations.
The Solar Roots Party brings together the original pioneers of residential solar, today's solar leaders, and the next generation of clean energy innovators to celebrate the industry's remarkable history while inspiring its future. The party is made possible in part through the generous support of industry sponsors. SMA serves as the event's Gold Sponsor and BoxPower is the Silver Sponsor. Additional sponsors include FranklinWH, IronRidge, REC, Greentech Renewables, NABCEP, Tamarack Solar, PV Cables, and Planet Plan Sets.
Solar Roots Party | https://www.solar-roots.com/
Sol-Ark, a U.S.-based leader in hybrid inverter and energy storage solutions, launched the MySolArk Installer App, a purpose-built mobile application that helps professional solar installers commission, document, monitor, and manage compatible Sol-Ark residential systems.
Designed around the installer workflow, the app guides commissioning teams through system topology, connectivity, hardware validation, battery and grid settings, operating profiles, and final verification. Multi-site visibility and shareable commissioning reports help teams deliver more consistent installations, maintain accurate project records, and manage systems beyond commissioning
"Installers need software that works as hard as they do," said Devin Bethel, Software Product Manager at Sol-Ark. "The MySolArk Installer App provides a streamlined, mobile-first experience that simplifies commissioning, strengthens project documentation, and helps installation teams manage more projects with greater confidence."
The MySolArk Installer App Key Features:
Guided Commissioning: A workflow covering safety verification, system topology, network connectivity, hardware validation, battery configuration, grid settings, operating profiles, and system verification.
Multi-Site Project Dashboard: Create and manage multiple installations, monitor commissioning progress, and review site and equipment status from one interface.
Battery Configuration: Configure compatible batteries with one touch using predefined settings for Sol-Ark's ecosystem of UL 9540-certified ESS pairings.
Time-of-Use Configuration: Configure utility rate schedules, peak-shaving settings, and supported grid-charging strategies to optimize system operation and energy savings.
Commissioning Reports: Automatically generate shareable PDF reports documenting system configuration.
System Monitoring and Events: Review current power flow, equipment status, system performance, and event logs across installed systems.
Connectivity and Support: Support for compatible Wi-Fi and 4G LTE dongles, with access to product documentation, training resources, and Sol-Ark Technical Support.
Availability
The MySolArk Installer App is available now for download for iOS and Android. The application currently supports commissioning of compatible Sol-Ark residential hybrid inverter systems, with support for Sol-Ark commercial hybrid inverter commissioning planned for a future release. MySolArk applications are developed in the United States, with data hosted on AWS infrastructure in the U.S.
Sol-Ark | sol-ark.com
Qcells welcomed the White House's actions to help ensure domestic solar manufacturers can compete on a level playing field as demand for energy grows across the country. The Trump Administration's decision to issue Section 232 tariffs on polysilicon and its derivatives will help bolster investments in onshoring the energy supply chain required to build American-made solar when the country needs it most.
In response, Andy Park, Global CEO of Hanwha Qcells, issued the following statement:
"Today's decision from the White House balances the reality of where America's solar energy manufacturing is today while advancing our collective ambition to onshore the entire supply chain from polysilicon to finished panels in the U.S. This decision helps support the billions of dollars invested and the thousands of jobs created at factories around the country. It also helps lay the groundwork for more investments, more jobs, and more innovation to come. Demand for reliable, affordable, and safe energy has never been higher. American solar manufacturers are ready to rise to the occasion."
Qcells | https://qcells.com/us
Arnold Magnetic Technologies Corporation ("Arnold"), a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI) and leading global manufacturer of high-performance magnets and precision components, highlights a series of recent significant equipment overhauls and environmental upgrades at its new Precision Thin Metals (PTM) facility. These investments are designed to enhance product quality, improve lead times, and reinforce Arnold’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Arnold’s PTM operation opened in their new facility in Woodstock, IL earlier this year, and has undergone comprehensive upgrades to multiple key pieces of equipment. These overhauls are already delivering measurable improvements in both product quality and delivery timelines, strengthening Arnold’s position as a trusted supplier to critical industries.
In addition to equipment enhancements, the new facility incorporates a range of advanced environmental technologies. PTM now utilizes air oxidizers that clean emissions from various equipment, ensuring that approximately 99% of the air released is clean. A closed-loop chiller system has been installed for process cooling water, eliminating the need for continuous fresh water consumption and drastically reducing daily water waste. High-efficiency LED lighting has been implemented throughout the facility, further reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
PTM has installed a new bromide recycling still, which reduces the need to purchase new degreasing chemicals by approximately 70%. The company has also added a HydroFlo Tech automatic pH balancing filtration system to manage wastewater discharge from the annealing furnace’s wash and rinse tanks.
Arnold’s PTM facility is enhancing its operations through strategic investments in sustainable manufacturing. These upgrades, including advanced environmental controls and critical equipment enhancements, will improve product quality and efficiency while reducing environmental impact. This initiative demonstrates Arnold’s dedication to providing customers with reliable, high-performance materials and solutions that meet contemporary sustainability standards.
Arnold Magnetic Technologies | https://www.precisionthinmetals.com
The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its Q2 2026 edition of the 50 States of Power Decarbonization. The quarterly series provides updates on state and utility actions pertaining to clean energy targets, emission reduction targets and carbon policies, generation planning and procurement rules, large load customer treatment, integrated resource plans, and electric generation capacity changes (RFPs, CPCN requests, power plant retirements, etc.).
The Q2 2026 report finds that all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico, took a total of 564 actions related to electric power decarbonization and resource planning during the quarter (see figure below), in addition to approximately 650 introduced bills considered during the quarter that had not yet passed a legislative chamber.
The most active states this quarter were California, Louisiana, Colorado, and Virginia, followed by South Carolina, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Among integrated resource plans recently filed or under review by regulators in Q2 2026, planned capacity additions totaled 77,810 for natural gas, 72,193 for solar, 43,017 for storage, 12,615 for nuclear, and 12,327 MW for wind, while planned coal retirements totaled 26,752 MW.
Q2 2026 Action on Power Decarbonization and Resource Planning
The report discusses three trends in power decarbonization actions taken in Q2 2026: (1) state lawmakers and regulators pulling back on clean energy policies; (2) governors taking steps to address large load additions; and (3) states requiring large load customers to contribute to customer programs, including those supporting low-income customers and energy efficiency efforts.
“Data centers and other large load customers continue to be at the forefront of policymakers’ minds. This quarter saw heavy involvement from state governors, with five governors signing executive orders or taking other major actions relating to large load customers,” observed Emily Apadula, Senior Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “Topics ranged from creating studies, development frameworks, and creating advisory councils, with many governors calling out economic development and ratepayer protection as key factors in their executive orders.”
The report notes the top five policy developments of Q2 2026 were:
“Policymakers in a growing number of states are also reconsidering their clean energy goals and emission reduction targets,” noted Brian Lips, Senior Project Manager at NCCETC. “The motivations vary from state to state, but include concerns over affordability, shifting federal policies and incentives, and rapidly increasing demand from large load customers.”
View the 50 States of Power Decarbonization Q2 2026 Quarterly Report Executive Summary
View and Purchase the 50 States of Grid Modernization Q2 2026 Quarterly Report
NC Clean Energy Technology Center | https://nccleantech.ncsu.edu/
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and GenH2 Corp., a leader in hydrogen infrastructure solutions and a subsidiary of Path2 Hydrogen AG (XETR: PTHH), announced a collaboration to advance research in liquid hydrogen (LH₂) technologies for next-generation aviation. Under the agreement, GenH2 will provide the University with a laboratory-scale hydrogen liquefier, giving researchers dedicated, on-site capability to produce liquid hydrogen for aerospace testing.
Hydrogen is widely viewed as a leading path to decarbonizing aviation, offering higher energy density than conventional battery technology and enabling zero-emission propulsion systems. Advancing cryogenic fuel system technologies for aviation decarbonization is a central focus of the Center for Sustainable Aviation at the University of Illinois. Yet research progress has long been constrained by historically limited access to liquid hydrogen — many universities struggle to receive and maintain limited quantities of liquid hydrogen for laboratory research purposes. The liquefier changes that equation for University of Illinois researchers, enabling them to generate liquid hydrogen on-site, accelerate testing, validate new concepts, and support the development of future hydrogen-powered aircraft.
"Providing researchers with direct access to liquid hydrogen is an important step toward accelerating innovation," said Christopher Wallington, Senior Vice President at GenH2. "We are excited to support the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as it advances research that can help shape the future of sustainable aviation."
"Reliable, on-site access to liquid hydrogen will significantly expand our research capabilities and accelerate the evaluation of advanced fuel systems and cryogenic technologies for aviation," said Phillip J. Ansell, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, in The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Ansell is an Ormsbee Faculty Scholar, and director of the Center for Sustainable Aviation. "This capability will help us generate the performance, safety, and operational data needed to advance the next generation of hydrogen-powered aircraft."
The collaboration pairs the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's aerospace research capabilities with GenH2's expertise in hydrogen liquefaction, cryogenic technologies, and liquid hydrogen infrastructure.
The new on-site liquefaction capability will support research that seeks to close several critical gaps in the implementation of hydrogen systems on aircraft related to system operational resiliency, technological readiness, safety and regulatory preparedness, and overall energy efficiency. Future research will be conducted on liquid hydrogen fuel systems, including component and fuel system performance assessments, as well as storage, transfer, and refueling technologies. Researchers will also evaluate pumps, valves, seals, and other vital system components under real liquid hydrogen operating conditions.
The local liquid hydrogen production capability will further enable researchers to evaluate critical cryogenic performance factors that influence the development of future hydrogen-powered aircraft, including heat transfer, multiphase flow dynamics, and the long-term durability of materials and components exposed to liquid hydrogen conditions. This work will support the advancement of emerging aviation technologies such as vapor-shielded tanks, ultra-high-endurance UAVs, and fault-tolerant cryogenic insulation strategies, while generating the performance, reliability, safety, and risk mitigation data needed to accelerate future aircraft integration and deployment.
By providing researchers with reliable, on-site access to liquid hydrogen, the collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of technologies that support a cleaner, more sustainable aviation industry. Both organizations look forward to expanding research opportunities, training the next generation of engineers, and advancing the commercialization of liquid hydrogen technologies for aviation and other emerging applications.
GenH2 | genh2.com
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | https://illinois.edu/
Alternative Energies Jul 23, 2026
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